What did you learn in 2011?

mi_jardin

1. Mr S baby bath is cheaper than the regular bubble bath I used to buy to refill the soap and shower dispensers. It used to be cheap but has now gone up to nearly 40P a litre, but the baby bath is 11p for half a litre!

2. Stop DH from cooking if you want to make food stretch! He will use soooooo much stuff and is completely oblivious to the cost of food!

3. Buying the brands I like doesn't have to cost the earth, just stock up when on offer, but the real key is to use them frugally.

4. Its not a saving if you weren't going to buy it in the first place, true whether its food or "stuff"!

squeaky

Frugal wrote: »

I also learned that the fairies do NOT come and sort this out for you and you have to do it yourself :eek:

Actually fairies do come - but they are likely to cost you around £9 per hour

natlie

The great baby bubble bath not soap tip- only pay 11p now
There are great bargains to be had in the reduced section
That I can manage on £90 groceries for 4 of us and manage on our household maternity budget of just £900 a month
Cloth nappies and wipes are brilliant
That baby boys are much less fussy than baby girls
That in 2012 I will - buy more 2nd hand clothes, wear all the shoes I have collected over the years, start my cake business, get a new better paid job and try to keep the house cleaner!

Carrieandco

Frugal wrote: »

I learned that if you take your eye off the ball then all he!! breaks loose. The kitchen becomes a health hazard complete with its very own e coli cloud and eating out munches a lot of the budget, walking thru the living room is like wading thru mud and you can only wear 2 different outfits (one in the wash, one on, the rest on the floor).

I also learned that the fairies do NOT come and sort this out for you and you have to do it yourself :eek:

I'm just slowly realising the same thing! You might wonder how anyone can reach there mid 40's without knowing this but there you are - learn something new every day!:j
Carrie

tjak

I learned that
buying 25kg of potatoes (for £5) is soooo much cheaper than from MrT, and they last forever in the shed
no-one minds not using fabric conditioner, or even when I use white vinegar
diluting cheap shower gel is great as handwash
I can make my own clothes and presents (thanks to a dressmaking evening class and teaching myself to crochet)
menu planning is the way to go, and I can shop from my cupboards before leaving the house to buy anything
flylady digest helps me keep my home looking great - I can do anything for 15 minutes
I love being OS!

Kaz2904

I learned how to knit and am hopefully going to finish off my first cardigan this afternoon.
I learned that if you dip your measuring spoon in oil, treacle/syrup won't stick to it (love that tip, thanks Kirstie Alsopp!).
I re-learned the joy of menu planning.
Pig trotters as a meal just don't work for our family. Where do you guys find the meat on them because there was none on mine, just fat .
Sewing is easy enough if you use the tools you have available (thanks sewing board and internet )
There is immeasurable pleasure in producing something YOU have made as a gift for someone who really appreciates it.

SpikyHedgehog

I learnt that I can do diy :-), that meal planning & shopping lists cut down the shopping bill, even when I have children shopping with me ;-)

And to trust my instincts when I think something's wrong :-(

beemuzed

I too have learnt that if I take my eye off the ball it all goes pearshaped! Thought finances were ticking along nicely...but then realised that you can only spend the "extra" in the budget once - not two or three times.
Need to stay OS all of the time!
Tomatoes, beans, beetroot - all easy to grow and save money at the shops.
Need to just keep chipping away at everything, budget, housework whatever - every thing helps, even if it's not perfect!
And of course... the importance of checking the wisdom offered on here.

snowleopard61

By means of attempting to donate blood for the first time in years - that I was quite impressively anaemic (haemoglobin of 66, for those to whom that means anything). This led to my being prescribed iron tablets and now feeling dramatically better than I've felt in forever. It has been quite MS too: I can face walking back from town as well as walking there (about 45 mins each way) and no longer use rain as an excuse for occasionally getting the bus to or from work - the norm is walking, 25 mins each way - now I just put on wellies and waterproof trousers as well as raincoat etc and walk it whatever the weather. So have saved on fares - good all round!

pixie1

For me, during 2011 I have learnt that I can actually cook! Im not an expert by any means but i know longer rely on packet mixes and sauces, i love cooking from scratch and im improving daily. Ive also learnt to be more daring with my recipe choices, as long as i take time to read and follow carefully i can produce lovely fresh food. Whilst this all does take time, it saves me much needed cash.

Im also getting better at menu planning and stock piling when there are offers on.

Thanks

Pix